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All you need to know about the syllabus changes from June 2024 onwards

Cambridge Assessment International Education have updated this syllabus to make it clearer and more accessible for both teachers and learners and to make sure that it reflects current educational thinking.

What are the main changes to the syllabus?

  • removed tiering (research suggests that in language qualifications students should access the full grade set to achieve their best possible outcome)
  • made the Listening paper 100% multiple-choice in response to feedback from teachers
  • simplified and improved the accessibility of the teacher/examiner notes in the speaking component
  • removed the summary task from the Reading and Writing paper and replaced it with a new multiple-choice question in response to feedback from teachers who told us that some students struggle with the summary task.

What are the main changes to the assessment?

  • With the removal of tiering, there are now three components which are accessible to all candidates: Paper 1 Reading and Writing, Paper 2 Listening and Component 3 Speaking Test
  • Cambridge Assessment International Education has made changes to the duration and number of marks available on the Listening paper and Speaking test
  • The assessed part of the Speaking test has been split into three smaller parts to make it clearer to teachers/examiners and students what is expected from them. Teachers/examiners can now make notes in the test
  • To reduce the burden on teachers/examiners and to allow them to focus on assessing the candidate, all the questions on the speaking assessment card have been listed
  • Cambridge Assessment International Education has updated the mark schemes for all components.

When do these changes take place?

The updated syllabus is for examination from June 2024 onwards. Examinations are available in June and November.

Access the list of endorsed resources for Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language. 

View 0510 Speaking Endorsement Syllabus for exams in 2024, 2025 and 2026

View 0511 Count-in Speaking Syllabus for exams in 2024, 2025 and 2026

Speaking endorsement (0510)

The syllabus:

  • is suitable for learners whose first language is not English
  • develops learners’ ability to understand and use English in a range of situations
  • builds learners’ awareness of the nature of language and the four language-learning skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking
  • focuses on practical communication for everyday use, which can also form the basis for further, more in-depth language study
  • develops transferable skills to complement other areas of the curriculum.

Marks for the speaking component in this syllabus do not contribute to the overall grade candidates receive for the written components. A count-in speaking component is offered in Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (0511).

 

Count-in speaking (0511)

The syllabus:

  • is suitable for learners whose first language is not English, but who study through the English-medium.
  • develops learners’ ability to understand and use English in a range of situations
  • builds learners’ awareness of the nature of language and the four language-learning skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking
  • focuses on practical communication for everyday use, which can also form the basis for further, more in-depth language study
  • develops transferable skills to complement other areas of the curriculum.

Marks for the speaking component do contribute to the overall grade. A speaking endorsement component is offered in Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (0510).

 

Below is some more information and executive previews available for Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language resources that have been endorsed and published by Cambridge Assessment International Education.

Recognition and acceptance

External links